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Zimbabwe: Mbeki 'Shocked' At Zim Violence
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Zimbabwe Independent (Harare)
16 May 2008
Posted to the web 16 May 2008
Constantine Chimakure
Harare
SOUTH African President Thabo Mbeki last week confronted President Robert Mugabe on post-election violence after a probe team he sent to Zimbabwe uncovered shocking evidence of largely state-sponsored brutality against opposition supporters in rural areas.
Sources told the Zimbabwe Independent that Mbeki raised "great concern" about the violence when he met Mugabe in Harare last Friday afternoon soon after receiving a brief on political violence from the investigators.
Mbeki was appointed by Sadc last year to facilitate dialogue between Zanu PF and the opposition MDC. The sources said the head of the probe team made up of ex-army generals, Lieutenant-General Gilbert Lebeko Ramano, met Mbeki for several hours and told him they had uncovered evidence of brutal violence against the opposition.
Ramano, the source added, told Mbeki that in a few cases members of the Morgan Tsvangirai-led MDC were also involved in counter-violence.
The generals during their investigations met government, Zanu PF and opposition officials, civil society and other stakeholders. They also saw victims of the political violence, some of them with lacerations, scars and broken limbs.
The team reportedly declined to entertain police chief Augustine Chihuri's attempt to give them a colonial context of the situation obtaining in the country. Chihuri, the sources added, was reminded by the generals that their mandate in Zimbabwe was to probe current political violence.
Mbeki, the sources said, was shown some of the evidence of the violence and was reportedly shaken.
"After the briefing with the generals at the South African ambassador's residence, Mbeki met Mugabe at State House for three hours and raised concern about the violence," one of the sources said. "Mbeki reportedly told Mugabe that a run-off in an atmosphere of violence would produce a disputed result.
Mugabe, the sources said, agreed with Mbeki that the violence should be brought to an end, but tried to convince the South African leader that MDC youths were provoking his party members.
Since the Mugabe/Mbeki meeting, the Zimbabwe government and Zanu PF have been issuing statements deploring violence.
Police in Masvingo this week said they had dismantled political bases in the province that were being used to unleash violence, while Zanu PF in Mashonaland Central launched an anti-violence campaign.
On Wednesday Zanu PF's politburo met in the capital and also condemned violence. The source said Mbeki was convinced that a run-off could not take place in the tense climate.
Last week, his special envoy on Zimbabwe, Kingsley Mamabolo, also said the environment in Zimbabwe was not conducive for the run-off now expected about or after July 31.
On Wednesday Sadc - which is expected to monitor the run-off - said the political environment was not yet suited for a free and fair second-round poll.
"We can't say the playing ground is safe or will be fair, but we are there to create a conducive environment for everybody to be confident," Sadc executive secretary Tomaz Salomao said.
Sadc is expected to hold an extraordinary meeting on Zimbabwe soon.
Political violence intensified in Zimbabwe after the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) confirmed on May 2 that Mugabe and Zanu PF had lost to the MDC and Tsvangirai in the March 29 poll.
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The sources said Mugabe told Mbeki during their meeting that the run-off would be delayed because ZEC needed funds to replenish election materials, among other logistics.
Mugabe reportedly told the South African leader that ZEC wanted to delay the run-off by at least six months.
"Mbeki pledged to mobilise funds for the run-off," another source said.
This is a worying factor, what a beutifull country and it has so' much potential for tourism and growth but unfortunately the leaders are messing it up for everyone and causing people to flee to the outside world. Its a real shame!!!
Oh! Suddenly Mr President,Mbeki now has developed some eyes. I dont quite believe this. And having been able to see,it appears there is still no sign that he is can see the right scenario of what is happening.And at he is seeing the right thing,what evidence is on the ground to suggest that his reactions are of benefit to the sufferings of people in Guruve,Mkumbura,Kapfudza,Mtoko or Masvingo? Still there is no cisis? Still Zimbabweans have the capacity to solve their own problems? Mr President,the people who are suffering in this ordeal are evidently unable to solve the problems,and those... [Read Full Text]
Amen!!!!!!! Not sure why Mbeki has had a change of mind but still as long as the talking continues it is still not helping the people of Zimbabwe so let them see real action and not petty little promises which are meaningless. Mugabe does not understand mere words so show him some strong action!
Mbeki is only pretending to act concerned now because he can't dispute the evidence. He shouldn't be involved in mediation, he's completely useless.
From gentle diplomacy to confrontation? Police dismantling political camps? What is a political camp? ZANU PF launched an anti-violence campaign?
I wonder if it's Mbeki or Mugabe attempting to save face? Maybe they are attempting to save eachothers face.
Maybe they think enough people have fled to secure the run off and they are now being conciliatory.
I think Mbeki is pretty much complicit in everything that has happened since he became the SADC representative to Zimbabwe.
Hopefully Mbeki can actually see what his dilly-dallying has produced. He still appears not to take firm action though. He has got to realize the extra torment that he is causing by not seeing another's suffering as an emergency ! One would not like him to be a doctor or nurse in charge of casualty, all the patients would have died of shock already. I prefer to think that he is just deluded by Mugabe rather than complicit. But from this report he may also realize that he also may be in danger of ending up on trial in... [Read Full Text]
Nothing lasts forever. One day soon we will have our day of celebration and justice. ZANU can hide behind it's lies and it's allies like Mbeki, but i assure you that if we the sons of zimbabwe work together, we will overcome this evil.
My message is for everyone to take part in the coming election. People in the diaspora cannot vote, but we most definately can be heard by giving support to THE MDC, weather it be financial, food, fuel or any means possible.
WE CAN DO IT. LETS WORK TOGETHER!!!
Stop castigating Mbeki over the situation in Zimbabwe!!!!! He has enough on his hands-trying to stabilize a country that was steeped into the despicable ideology of apartheid, and is still reeling with racism. Besides, Mugabe should have enough common sense to take a leaf from the South African struggle that you CANNOT kill the human spirit. He is on his way out just like the despicable, racist, apartheid regimes were kicked out. Zimbabweans, it seems as if you are blaming everybody else except your selves. You created this monster called Mugabe. Therefore, you find a way to get rid of... [Read Full Text]
salaam, So torture in some matters democracy states it be fine work effort to GET to the TRUTH of the matter, States Bush and then claims a RIGHT to attack the people of Iraq for not accepting democracy policy, for no KING does democracy bring in rulership matters, for guess and assumption be democracy aim , as claimed some left hand matter has rights in matter founded in the left hand ? So if it went to the foundation they gave the rights to the teachers of the matter founded in prison LIFE style. For if it truely has a... [Read Full Text]
Secretslave, ?????????
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